Aerobic and anaerobic exercise
I can apply knowledge of aerobic and anaerobic exercise to various sporting examples.
Aerobic and anaerobic exercise
I can apply knowledge of aerobic and anaerobic exercise to various sporting examples.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Aerobic exercise is exercise that uses oxygen for energy over extended periods, like running or cycling.
- Anaerobic exercise is high-intensity exercise that doesn't rely on oxygen, such as sprinting or weightlifting.
- Fats are a fuel source for low intensity aerobic activity.
- Carbohydrates are a fuel source for higher intensity aerobic and anaerobic activity.
Keywords
Aerobic work - working at a moderate intensity so that the body has time to utilise oxygen for energy production, allowing the body to work for a continuous period, e.g. long-distance events, or duration of a match
Anaerobic work - working at a high intensity without oxygen for energy production, therefore limited energy so work period will be short, e.g. sprinting up the wing in a football match
Lactic acid - a by-product of energy production-formed when the body is exercising anaerobically at high intensity
Lactate accumulation - when lactate levels in the blood/muscle rise due to increased work intensity, e.g. moving from aerobic to anaerobic exercise
Common misconception
Pupils are unsure about situations when the body works aerobically and when it works anaerobically.
Aerobic exercise requires oxygen from the air we breathe to totally break down glucose to release energy for exercise. This is the most efficient mechanism but requires exercise to be at a low/ moderate intensity, whereas high intensity is anaerobic.
To help you plan your year 10 physical education lesson on: Aerobic and anaerobic exercise, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 10 physical education lesson on: Aerobic and anaerobic exercise, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 physical education lessons from the Anatomy and physiology: anaerobic and aerobic exercise unit, dive into the full secondary physical education curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
bring air into the body
branch off the trachea to enter each lung
enable gaseous exchange at the lungs
carry oxygen around the body
carry blood away from the heart
the amount of air breathed in or out normally at rest
the amount of air breathed in per minute
the additional air that can be breathed in after a normal breath in
a maximal breath in followed by a maximal breath out
the amount of air left in the lungs after a maximal breath out
Exit quiz
6 Questions
long duration and low intensity exercise using oxygen
high intensity exercise without oxygen that can only last a short time
a waste product of anaerobic respiration
build up of the by-product of anaerobic respiration in the blood